Arsenal Steal March On Man Utd After Holding Talks With £16.8m Midfielder

The summer transfer window is in full swing so we’ll bring you all the latest transfer rumours and gossip from around the globe. Today, Arsenal hold talks with Oguzhan Ozyakup….

Arsenal have held talks with Oguzhan Ozyakup about a potential move back to north London but the Turkish international has decided to remain at Besiktas for at least another season, according to Turkish newspaper Milliyet.

Ozyakup spent four years in the Arsenal youth academy between 2008 and 2012 but failed to make a single Premier League appearances for the first team before sealing a £350,000 move to Besiktas.

The 23-year-old has excelled during his time in Turkey and played a pivotal role in helping Besiktas win the Super Lig title last season having scored 10 goals and provided 8 assists in his 40 appearances.

Ozyakup has also developed in to a regular with the Turkish international team with the midfielder earning his 23 cap while playing at this summers European Championship Finals in France.

The youngsters form has attracted interest from some of Europe’s top clubs with the Daily Star reporting last week that Manchester United are keen on luring the midfielder back to the Premier League this summer with Besiktas understood to be willing to sell at £16.8m.

The Red Devils are widely expected to finalise a world record deal to sign Paul Pogba over the coming days but with Bastian Schweinsteiger set to leave and Michael Carrick coming towards the end of his career at Old Trafford, Jose Mourinho may feel he needs to add another young midfielder to his ranks and Ozyakup is seemingly on his radar.

But it looks as though Arsenal have stolen a march on their rivals as Turkish outlet Milliyet claims that the Gunners have held talks with the midfielder to see if he’d be open to a move back to the Emirates this summer.

Arsene Wenger was reluctant to let Ozyakup leave four years ago so it appears the French boss is hoping to lure the Turkish star back to north London – although Milliyet also say that Borussia Dortmund and AC Milan are showing a keen interest in the player too.

However, Ozyakup has dealt a blow to all interested clubs after confirming that he plans to remain at Besiktas for at least another season to help them during their upcoming Champions League campaign.

“The offers may come, but I don’t want to go,” Ozyakup is quoted as saying by Milliyet.

“I want to stay at Besiktas for another year, and contribute to the Champions League.”

So it looks like Wenger and Mourinho are set for disappointment in their pursuits of Ozyakup and will have to wait until next summer if they want to get their hands on the Turkish youngster.

The midfielder seemingly wants to stay in Turkey where he’s a key member of the Besiktas team rather than join a club like Arsenal or United where he’d be nothing more than a squad player, and you have to admire him for such a brave choice.

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